Sandersville Giants
Sandersville Giants | |
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| |
Minor league titles | |
League titles (1) | 1955 |
Wild card berths (2) |
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Team data | |
Name | Sandersville Wacos (1953–1954) Sandersville Giants (1955–1956) |
Ballpark | Sandersville Baseball Park (1953–1956) |
The Sandersville Giants were a
Sandersville played as a minor league affiliate of the
History
Sandersville first hosted a minor league baseball team in 1953. Sandersville became a new franchise in the eight–team Class D level
In their first season of minor league play, the Sandersville "Wacos" finished their first season of play with a record of 48–77. Playing as an affiliate of the Milwaukee Braves, the Wacos were managed by Gabby Grant, Parnell Ruark, Luscius Morgan and Julian Morgan, placing sixth in the Georgia State League and finishing 33.0 games behind the first place Hazlehurst-Baxley Cardinals.[6][7]
In the 1954 season, the Sandersville Wacos finished a distant last in the Georgia State League, which reduced to a six–team league. With a record of 33–97, the Wacos finished 52.5 games behind the league champion Vidalia Indians, placing sixth in the Georgia State League final standings, while playing under managers Dave Madison and Sid West.[8][7]
In 1955, the franchise became the Sandersville "Giants," as the team became a minor league affiliate of the New York Giants and won a co-championship. The Giants placed second in the Georgia State League regular season standings, finishing 5.5 gases behind the first place Douglas Trojans. The Giants finished the regular season with a record of 60–47 under player/manager Pete Pavlick.[9] In the 1955 playoffs, the Giants defeated the Hazlehurst-Baxley Cardinals 3 games to 1 to advance. In the Finals against the Douglas Trojans, the series was tied at 3 games each. Game 7 was cancelled due to rain and the teams were declared Georgia State League co–champions.[7] Jack Elias of Sandersville led the Georgia State League with a .332 batting average. Pitchers Leo Quatro and Victor Davis led the league with 15 wins and 183 strikeouts, respectively.[7]
Future Baseball Hall of Fame member Willie McCovey played for the 1955 Sandersville Giants and led the league in RBI. Having signed his first professional contract for $175.00 per month, McCovey was 17 years old and in his first professional season out of Mobile, Alabama. McCovey hit .305 with 19 home runs and led the league with 113 RBI in 107 games for Sandersville.[10][11]
Said McCovey in his 1986
In the Georgia State League's final season of 1956, the Sandersville Giants placed second in the Georgia State League. The Giants finished the regular season with a record of 70–50 under returning player/manager Pete Pavlick and placed second in the regular season standings, finishing 7.0 games behind the first place
The Georgia State League permanently folded following the 1956 season.[7] Sandersville, Georgia has not hosted another minor league team.[15][7]
The ballpark
The Sandersville Wacos and Giants teams played minor league home games at Sandersville Baseball Park. The ballpark was located in Sandersville, Georgia.[16]
Timeline
Year(s) | # Yrs. | Team | Level | League | Affiliate | Ballpark |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1953 | 1 | Sandersville Wacos | Class D |
Georgia State League | Milwaukee Braves |
Sandersville Baseball Park |
1954 | 1 | None | ||||
1955–1956 | 2 | Sandersville Giants | New York Giants |
Year–by–year records
Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Attend | Playoffs/Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1953 | 48–77 | 6th | Gabby Grant / Parnell Ruark / Luscius Morgan / Julian Morgan |
33,895 | Did not qualify |
1954 | 33–97 | 6th | Stan West / Dave Madison | 25,600 | Did not qualify |
1955 | 56–51 | 2nd | Pete Pavlick | 31,005 | League Co-Champions |
1956 | 70–50 | 2nd | Pete Pavlick | 31,287 | Lost League Finals |
Notable alumni
- Baseball Hall of Fame, 1986
- Dave Madison (player/MGR, 1954)
- Julio Navarro (1955)
- Pete Pavlick (1955–1956, MGR)
References
- ^ "1953 Sandersville Wacos Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1955 Sandersville Giants Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1956 Sandersville Giants Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1952 Georgia State League (GSL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1953 Georgia State League (GSL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1953 Sandersville Wacos Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ ISBN 978-1932391176.
- ^ "1954 Sandersville Wacos Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1955 Sandersville Giants Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Willie McCovey Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Willie McCovey - Society for American Baseball Research". sabr.org.
- ^ "Willie McCovey Hall of Fame Acceptance Speech".
- ^ "1956 Sandersville Giants Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1956 Sandersville Giants minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ a b "Sandersville, Georgia Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Sandersville Baseball Park in Sandersville, GA history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.